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Meggitt Avionics/S-TEC Is the New Name; Revitalized
Turboprops Is the Game
Consolidation of the two well-known companies now complete, Meggitt
Avionics/S-TEC is making its convention debut in the new guise and
is bringing good news to operators of turboprop twins with aging
avionics. Ken Paul, vp of sales and marketing, believes that the
after-market "needs a five-inch display desperately" and
is determined to beat potential competitors to what he sees as a
hitherto neglected market area.
By targeting the early acquisition of Supplemental Type Certificates
for certain versions of the Twin Commander, Conquest, King Air
and Cheyenne, Meggitt Avionics/S-TEC will soon be in the position
to offer modern technology on the instrument panels of 65% to
70% of the U.S. turboprop twin fleet, says Paul.
Key items in the offered upgrade are the Meggitt Magic EFIS and
EIDS; and the new Magic 2100 DFCS. These are priced at $53,900
for the left EFIS, $26,900 for right EFIS, $65,900 for autopilot
and $24,900 for the engine data screen.
Commander STC was achieved this past June. A Conquest 441 is completing
trials and a 425 variant will follow by year-end; the Cheyenne
II is next with a February 2003 target date; and the King Air
C90 and 200 will finish the program by mid-2003.
Magic, the Meggitt Avionics New Generation Integrated Cockpit,
includes primary flight display, navigation display and air data
attitude and heading reference system (ADAHRS). The EIDS installation
includes dual engine display units and a data acquisition unit.
Autopilot is a three-axis, fully digital, attitude-based FCS that
is designed to interface with the Magic EFIS and the old solid-state
ADAHRS sensor. A parallel program for piston-engined aircraft
will be marketed under the S-TEC brand name.
Anticipating a rush, Meggitt is offering pre-certification sales
systems for dealers, allowing them to reserve delivery positions
during the time the STC is being obtained. However, this can only
be done on the strength of customer's name, aircraft registration
and serial number data.
By Paul Jackson
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